An Ector County Jury convicted a 39-year-old man to the fatal shooting of a 31-year-old woman.
Damien Dubree Smith, 39, was convicted Nov. 12 of murder, a first-degree felony. The second count of murder was dismissed. He was sentenced to life in prison at a Texas Department of Criminal Justice Correctional Institution.
The jury trial took place in the 161st District Courtroom of Judge Justin Low, court records detailed.
Kevin Schulz, Scott Turner and Henry Eckels prosecuted the case, while Bret Mansur and Feliz Abalos represented Smith.
Smith was indicted by an Ector County Grand Jury on Oct. 8 in connection to the death of 31-year-old Crystal Araiza, court records show.
The other two women who were also arrested, charged and indicted in connection to the death of Araiza were 33-year-old Hayley Staggs and 39-year-old Jennifer Portillo. Staggs and Portillo were both indicted with tampering or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair. Both Staggs and Portillo remain in custody, jail records show.
At 2 a.m. Dec. 6, 2020, officers were dispatched to the 500 block of N. Lauderdale about a dead gunshot victim, an Odessa Police Department probable cause affidavit stated. The victim was identified as Araiza as officers saw a gunshot wound to the left side of her face.
Investigation reportedly showed recent Facebook conversations and phone calls in the victim’s phone with a subject named “Damien Du’bree Smith” and “Haley Portillo.” Smith stated he was going to have Araiza picked up at 1:30 a.m. and Araiza gave “Haley” her location to have them pick her up and further told them to contact Smith.
Detectives learned that Smith was paroled out of the same house officers responded to in the 500 block of N. Lauderdale Avenue, an affidavit stated. Detectives also identified “Haley Portillo” as Haley Staggs.
Staggs was reportedly interviewed by detectives and she stated that she and her girlfriend, Jennifer Portillo, picked up Araiza from the address provided to her through Facebook Messenger. Staggs stated they were driving a black Kia four door when they picked up Araiza.
Staggs stated they were told by Smith to take Araiza to his residence in the 500 block of N. Lauderdale Avenue, the affidavit detailed. Araiza stated Smith was upset with her due to being short cash owed to him.
Staggs reportedly detailed that she saw Smith put a firearm to Araiza’s face and shoot her. Staggs stated Araiza was shot to the left side of her face.
Staggs detailed during her interview that after the shooting Smith fled the scene and she and Portillo drug Araiza’s body out of the car and left her on the street, an affidavit stated. Staggs stated they fled the scene and went to a friend’s house in Odessa and got cleaning supplies.
Staggs and Portillo reportedly started to clean their vehicle of the blood and evidence. Staggs and Portillo left Odessa and fled to Texarkana. Staggs also stated they found a shell casing in the vehicle and threw it out in a parking lot of a gas station in Snyder.
